Archive for May, 2008

Cold Calling

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

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Cold calling is one effective way you can find a job. This is essentially uninvited job hunting where you dig for available job openings. The first step of cold calling is to make a list of the companies you’re interested in working for. Then look for people who have the power to give you a position in that company. Do this by calling the company and asking for the name of the human resources manager or the hiring manager. Then write a dynamic cover letter to the hiring manager stating the position you intend to apply for. Include a clean copy of your resume in the letter. Finally, contact the hiring manager or the human resources manager and ask for a job interview. This step is the most difficult since you’ll need to be persistent. If he or she is unwilling to give youa job interview, ask questions and try to gain more information about the field as well as the names of people you can do the whole process to again.

Resume Writing

Thursday, May 15th, 2008

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You can’t apply for a job unless you have a resume that describes and highlights your credentials, work experience, abilities, credentials, and skills. Here are a few tips that might help you write your resume.

The general rule is to keep your resume condensed into one page, but you don’t have to follow this rule to the letter. If you have a lot of work experience, you can stretch it up to two pages. If your resume spills over to the next page but you have less than half a page worth of material for page two, it’s better to try to put them all in one page.

Make your resume reader-friendly by using a bullet-style format.

Include as much contact information as you can, especially information about where your prospective employer can contact you during business hours.

Give your resume a sharp focus. Employers spend only 2 to 20 seconds to look at a resume, so you need to let them know what you can do and what you want to do at a glance. One way to do it is to place an objective statement – the position you’re looking for, or skills that will benefit your employer.

Online Job Hunting Tips

Saturday, May 10th, 2008

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The internet is a handy, convenient way to find your next job. Maximize what it can offer by following these tips on job hunting through the Internet.

Don’t expect the Internet to be a genie that will magically offer you your dream job. Only 5% of job seekers find their job through the internet alone.

Take advantage of all features each job search site offers, including the resume and advanced job search.

Don’t be passive during your job search. After posting your resume and applying for the job, follow up with each prospective employer with an e-mail.

Don’t respond to job listings you aren’t qualified for, as this will just add to the numerous applications employers need to go through.

Put more than one version of your resume online so that potential employers have 24/7 access to your credentials. Also consider developing an online portfolio, especially if your career is in web design or web development.

Also try going directly to each company’s website, looking through their job openings, and applying for each directly.

Phone Interviews

Monday, May 5th, 2008

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Some companies give you a phone interview before they call you in for a face-to-face interview. Here are a few do’s and don’ts you might want to consider during a phone interview.

If you don’t think you have enough time to do a phone interview today, suggest a certain time to the recruiter. It’s better if you do the call back so you can be more mentally prepared.

Make sure that you are in a quiet place where you can concentrate and take notes.

Keep notecards, an outline, or a copy of your resume in front of you so you can remember the key points you’d like to bring up during the interview. While you don’t want your answers to sound scripted, you don’t want to forget the important points either. Having your resume in front of you will also help you recall the highlights of your career so far.

Stand up during the phone interviewer. Experts say that people sound more professional when they’re standing up than when they’re sitting down.

Avoid sneezing or coughing; say “excuse me” if you can’t.

Demonstrating Your Problem-Solving Skills

Thursday, May 1st, 2008

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Interviewers look for candidates who can convince them that they can help the company achieve its goals. One of the best ways you can answer interview questions is by giving career success stories. These are the moments in your career where you were able to overcome difficult challenges to achieve the project’s goals. These stories will give your interviewer an idea about your ability to handle tasks, solve problems, and come up with solutions. Relate your answer to each interview question to a similar experience in your career, how you handled it, and the results that came out. The key to any successful interview, especially if it’s for a new field, is to make a connection between your abilities and skills and related situations in the new job. Although this job may be different from your previous one, there will be similarities in terms of daily challenges and tasks that you need to deal with.